Chandigarh, March 4:
As many as 225 students have already returned safely to Punjab so far. This was disclosed during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Secretary Mr. Anirudh Tewari on Friday here at his office.
While asking officials concerned to ensure safe return of the remaining students and other person stuck in Ukraine, he said that the state government is sparing no effort to help the distressed families in this hour of crisis.
Reviewing the status of calls recieved on the State Government’s dedicated 24×7 Control Room numbers i.e. 1100 (to call from within Punjab) and +91-172-4111905 (to call from outside India), the Chief Secretary was apprised that total 476 calls have been received so far on these control room numbers and these queries are being immediately forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), GoI for ensuring safe and secure evacuation of persons stranded in Ukraine. He was also informed that 326 affected families have been visited physically by the state government officials.
Mr. Tewari urged the affected persons and their relatives to immediately contact on the Punjab Government’s helpline numbers so that they can be extended assistance. He also appealed the parents and relatives of the stranded persons to ask their children get in touch with the Embassy and Government of India Officials at border posts and strictly follow the guidelines of MEA, GoI.
Resident Commissioner, Punjab Ms Rakhee Gupta Bhandari apprised the Chief Secretary that all the necessary arrangements have been made for safe return of stranded students and persons. She said they are in constant touch with Indian Embassy to ensure that no Punjab resident shall face any kind of problem in returning to their homes.
ADGP Public Grievances and state Nodal Officer of the dedicated 24×7 Control Room Mr. MF Farooqui informed that the students who have returned back from Ukraine thanked the state government for making efforts for their safe evacuation.
Principal Secretary Home Mr. Anurag Verma, Principal Secretary General Administration and Coordination Mr. Vivek Pratap Singh, ADGP Law & Order Mr. Naresh Arora, State Transport Commissioner Mr. Vimal Setia and other senior officers of the state government also attended the meeting.
